Partnership Update

October 6, 2011

Report on 5 Rivers Meeting

The 5 Rivers Meeting was attended by more than 40 representatives from land trusts and state and federal agencies. Attendees discussed the BP Early Restoration Funding process, the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, and funding opportunities from NOAA, USDA, and other federal agencies.

The Partners developed a strategic plan, and appointed an 8 member Executive Committee to oversee its implementation. Look for the strategic plan in a future edition of the UPDATE. Executive Committee members include:

Jay Addison, LA

Dan Dumont, AL

Walter Ernest, AL

Ray Herndon, National

Albert Joerger, FL

Stacey Shankle, National

Judy Steckler, MS

Bob Stokes, TX

Partnership News

The Partnership now has 20 members with representation from all of the Gulf Coast states.

Alabama Forest Resources

Alabama Land Trust

The Conservation Fund

Conservancy of Southwest Florida

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast

Ducks Unlimited

Galveston Bay Foundation

Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain

Land Trust for Southeast Louisiana

Lemon Bay Conservancy

Mississippi Land Trust

Mississippi River Trust

National Audubon

The Nature Conservancy

Tall Timbers Land Trust

Texas Land Trust Council

Trust for Public Land

Weeks Bay Foundation

Wildlands Conservation Trust

Wolf River Conservation Society

Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force Released Draft Plan on October 5, 2011. The primary goals of the strategy are to:

Partners are encouraged to review the document and provide feedback as individual organizations. The Partnership will also offer a response based on input from the membership. Feedback will be accepted at www.epa.gov/gulfcoasttaskforce, until 11:59 p.m. EST October 26, 2011. The Task Force will release the final version in December 2011.

Partnership to be highlighted at the Land Trust Alliance Rally

The Partnership will be the major focus of the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Conservation Meeting on Friday, October 14 from 9:00 am – 10:30 am. All Partnership members and friends are invited to attend and participate.

Free Proposal Writing Seminars for the 5 Star Restoration Program

Proposal writing seminars are being offered across the region in November for those working in Alabama, Florida, or Mississippi. Registration must be complete by October 17. For more information, contact www.nfwf.org/fivestar.